Official dates have been announced for the second annual Prague Food Festival, w
ith the feasting set for a few months earlier this time around. From June 20th to the 22nd, you'll be able to sample selected delicacies from some of the city's finest restaurants, including Aromi, Allegro, Essensia, maze, and The Sushi Bar, under open summer skies at Žofín on Slovanský Island. Tickets should be on sale soon.
And there's a whole new kind of food fest coming to Prague this year, too: the Cze
ch Beer Festival, which is touting itself as the largest gastronomic event in the Czech Republic. With an enormous supply of beer to be tapped into glass mugs, an extensive menu of local specialties, and an anticipated attendance of 150,000 - 200,000 visitors, the 10-day guzzlathon promises to be every bit as raucous and sloppy as Munich's famed Oktoberfest. Still, its organizers insist that they plan on encouraging the "sensible and cultural consumption of beer." We'll see how well that goes for them...
On a recent trip to Balkan restaurant Luka Lu (formerly Louka Lu), I discovered that they've transformed the drab courtyard out back into a picturesque winter gard
en. It's quite removed from the front part of the restaurant, so you really have to know the room is there in order to find it, but it's really adorable and cozy -- definitely worth a special visit. Go have a look and let me know what you think.
images: praguefoodfestival.cz, staropramen.cz, lukalu.cz
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Food news: Food and drink fests, and a sweet new hideaway for Luka Lu
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Food news: Prague gets its first Michelin star
As has been widely reported in the local press, the Czech Republic can now claim i
ts first Michelin star. The winner of the coveted French honor is Prague Four Seasons Hotel's Allegro, helmed by Italian chef Andrea Accordi. Michelin's lesser prize, the Bib Gourmand ("good food at good prices") was re-awarded to last years' honorees, Aromi, Brasserie M, and Le Terroir. For those who read Czech, my op-ed piece for Lidové Noviny about Michelin and its significance (or lack therof) for Czech gastronomy can be found here. The 2008 Michelin Red Guide: Main cities of Europe will be published in May.
Speaking of Michelin favorites, both Allegro and Brasserie M will have special Easter menus prepared for the holiday. Meanwhile, CzecHouse is to hol
d their lavish annual Easter brunch on Sunday, and Oliva will be serving up spring lamb specialties all weekend, starting today.
Jiří Štift has announced that he'll be leaving his executive chef position at the Radisson SAS (home of Alcron and La Rotonde) to open a restaurant of his own. La Rotonde will be running a fresh fish and seafood special until the end of the month.
And after months of rumors about its closure, Dinitz has indeed closed -- and reopened as Metropol Music Club / Oriental Restaurant, with a full kitchen running every night until 1 a.m. More on that once I check it out for myself.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Valentine's Day Dinner
Looking for someplace to take your (potential) lover for Valentine's Day? On February 14th, Prague's restaurants will be awash with special menus, red ro
ses, and in one case at least, complimentary condoms.
Here's a fairly exhaustive list of the kitschy goings-on to be held around town this Valentine's:
Alcron / La Rotonde - Each of the Radisson SAS restaurants will offer different four-course "his 'n' hers" menus. Highlights: At Alcron, raw oysters (for him) and scallops and crayfish in champagne soup (for her); at La Rotonde, beef tournedos Rossini with seared foie gras and truffle sauce (to share). Price per couple: 4000 CZK (Alcron) / 3400 CZK (La Rotonde).
Allegro - Choose between a four- and five- course Valentine's Day menu at this upscale Italian restaurant in the Four Seasons hotel. Price per person: 2500 CZK (four courses), 3600 CZK (four courses + wine pairing) / 2900 CZK (five courses), 4300 CZK (five courses + wine pairing).
Brasserie M - A special three-course menu for two. Highlights: An "aphrodisiac" duck fillet with ginger and Middle Eastern spices, chocolate fondant with passion fruit. Price per couple: 1750 CZK / 2250 CZK (with two glasses of champagne).
Chateau Mcely - The luxury castle retreat outside of Prague is offering a Valentine's Day package that includes a four-course dinner at their restaurant, Piano Nobile. Price per person: 1600 CZK, including dinner, welcome drink, chocolates and flowers, plus an invite to a screening of a romantic movie.
CzecHouse - A romantic five-course meal will be available at the spacious Hilton restaurant. Highlights: A trio of Valentine desserts - chocolate parfait with orange cream, mini pear tatin with po
rt wine ice cream, and marinated pomegranate on honey yoghurt. Price per couple: 2950 CZK.
Essensia - The Asian-inspired restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is putting together a five-course meal that includes a welcome cocktail (the "Valentini") and a small present for the lady. Highlights: Gratinated Fine de Claire oysters and caviar, crispy Peking duck and langoustine. Price per person: 1900 CZK.
Flambée - Two Valentine's menus will be offered from the 14th to the 17th of February: an afternoon dessert and champagne menu, and a six-course dinner. Highlights: B
aked langoustine with truffle cream and caviar, and a selection of veal entrées. Price per person: 890 CZK (dessert and champagne) / 2990 CZK (dinner).
Kampa Park - Sit by the river and enjoy a candlelit three-course dinner. Highlight: Monkfish wrapped in bacon with celery-dill purée, leek confit, and salmon roe beurre blanc. Price per person: 1665 CZK.
La Provence - The French brasserie will serve a three-course Valentine's Day dinner. Highlight: Poached halibut with shrimp and asparagus risotto with vermouth sauce. Price per person: 1125 CZK.
maze - Gordon Ramsay's Prague outpost is preparing a seven-course menu for lovers' day. Highlights: Poached lobster with apple and fennel salad, pan-fried John Dory with crushed potatoes and white bean velouté. Price per person: 1700 CZK.
Monsoon - Three special courses will be available at the Dejvice fusion restaurant. Highlight: White chocolate Grand Marnier mousse in pistachio tuille cups. Price per person: 595 CZK.
U Emy Destinnové - No set menu, but special Valentine's Day dishes, red roses for the ladies, and live music will lend this cozy below-ground restaurant an even more romantic to
ne than usual. Highlights: Grilled scallops wrapped in bacon with red currant wine sauce, fresh-grilled lobster, shrimp, and langoustines.
V Zátiší - The long-standing Prague restaurant is planning a four-course menu, including a "sweet surprise." Highlight: Roasted Barberie duck breast with foie gras and mashed potatoes in bresaola, spring onion, and lavender sauce. Price per person: 1295 CZK / 1995 CZK with wine pairing.
For romantic after-dinner drinks, look no further than Bar and Books: both locations will be holding Valen
tine's Day celebrations. Buy a bottle of champagne and the lady will receive a strawberry fondue and cigar on the house; her man gets a flavored Durex condom. Formal attire is required.
And if you're in the mood to just stay at home and cuddle or whatnot, Bakeshop will be making all of its well-loved cakes in heart shapes next week. Especially recommended are the perfectly pretty marzipan-and-raspberry princess cake and the frosted heart butter cookies (see picture above). Happy canoodling!
images: williamssonoma.com, chateaumcely.cz, mandarinoriental.com, flambee.cz, gordonramsay.com, vzatisi.cz, praguespoon
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Food news: Calamari, Chinese New Year, and culinary facelifts
Oliva is having a great squid special this weekend: all-you-can-eat calamari for 690 CZK. The offer is available during dinner this Thursday and Friday and lunch and dinner on Saturday. More info -- including a full menu -- can be found here.
New Asian fusion restaurant Angel is also hosting a couple of events this week. They'll be putting together a special dinner in honor of Chinese New Year on Thursday, 
and will be serving their very first brunch on Sunday (the menu should be posted soon).
For another Chinese New Year option, check out Monsoon's website. They'll also be featuring a special set menu on Thursday, priced at 545 CZK for five courses.
The area around Vězeňská street has seen a fair amount of restaurant refurbishment action lately. Pilsner Urquell chain pub Kolkovna has reopened, looking about the same as it always did on the main floor (although I didn't get a chance to check the basement). Albar café (formerly Blatouch) is now Alforno, an Italian pizza joint; the Aldente Trattoria next door has stayed intact. And across the street, winery Vino di Vino is set to transform into Luna di Notte, a "restaurant and live music lounge," with the official opening scheduled for next week.
Finally, Polish casual dining chain Sphinx has opened its first Czech location on Na Příkopě, in the spot previously held by concept restaurant 120 Days. It's something along the lines of T.G.I. Friday's, but with a Middle Eastern twist: the menu lists kebabs and shawarma alongside steaks, onion rings, garlic bread, and pizza. Let's just hope Sphinx is a little less overpriced than its neighbor.
images: fishfanatics.co.uk, monsoon-restaurant.cz, aldentetrattoria.cz, sphinx.cz
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Food news: Bohemian Carnevale, restaurant renovations, and more
Those of you in the mood to dress up in masks, dance around the streets of Prague, and gorge on food and drink will be happy to know that the Bohemian Carnevale starts on Thursday and runs until next Tuesday. The activities list is extensive, and includes special menus at 30 different Prague restaurants, bars, and cafés as part of the Cuisine d'Alchimiste feast. To participate, you must purchase a Carnevale Pass, which is good for the duration of the festival and comes with restaurant vouchers, a carnival mask, and free access to the Carnevale Salon on Husova street.
Prague tends to experience a relative lull in tourist traffic during the months of January and February, so now is the most common time for restaurants to renovate. Among those temporarily shuttered are the original Kolkovna restaurant (for at least another month, see renovation pictures here), Terasa U Zlaté Studně (until Feb. 10th), Bellevue (until Feb. 4th), and Alchymist (until whenever they're done, apparently).
Last week brought the news that Vinohrady restaurant Tiger Tiger has been 
shut permanently. It was a friendly neighborhood place with decent Thai food, and it will be missed.
Finally, a shout-out to Dave Faries at The Prague Post, who featured the Spoon in this week's issue. Thanks for the support, Dave.
images: destination360.com, pragueholiday.cz, prague-navigator.com
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Oyster Weekend @ Oliva
Prague 2's popular Mediterranean restaurant Oliva is having a special oyster event this weekend. Oliva is one of my personal favorites, and I'm pretty sure these oysters will be great. Here's what you can expect (for those who don't like oysters, the traditional menu will also be available):
- oysters with traditional cold dip à la marché Les Halles
- gratinated oysters in Sabayon cream
- gratinated oysters with pancetta, mango, parmesan, and herbs
- creamy lettuce soup with oyster cappuccino
- oysters in cream sauce with cider and fresh spinach
- monkfish in fine oyster butter sauce served with leek fond and bacon chips
- fillet of seabass with oyster and mussel Palourde sauce on squid ink spaghetti
I'm going to be away this weekend, so I'll be missing this one. Let me know how you liked it!
Oyster Special Event @ Oliva
January 17 & 18 (dinner)
January 19 (lunch and dinner)
Plavecká 4
Prague 2 - New Town
Tel: +420 222 520 288
image: olivarestaurant.cz
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Black Truffle Days @ CzecHouse
Feeling fancy? Head over to the Hilton during their annual Black Truffle Days. The highly-prized fungi are at their most fragrant in January, and the staff at CzecHouse will be whipping up a feast to celebrate. Here's a sampler of what you can expect:
- marble of foie gras and pheasant with black truffles, crispy brioche, and fig chutney
- Perigord truffle risotto with oysters, roasted tomato and fava beans
- braised veal cheek with burgundy wine glaze on black truffle oil mashed potatoes
- fig tatin with truffle ice cream
You can check out the full menu here.
Black Truffle Days
18 - 27 January
CzecHouse Grill & Rotisserie
Prague Hilton
image: hiltonprague.cz
